Therewasonce a cooknamedGretel, whoworeshoeswithredheels, andwhenshewalkedoutwiththemon, sheturnedherselfthiswayandthat, wasquitehappyandthought: 'Youcertainlyare a prettygirl!' Andwhenshecamehomeshedrank, inhergladnessofheart, a draughtofwine, andaswineexcites a desiretoeat, shetastedthebestofwhatevershewascookinguntilshewassatisfied, andsaid: 'Thecookmustknowwhatthefoodislike.'
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Itcametopassthatthemasteronedaysaidtoher: 'Gretel, thereis a guestcomingthisevening; preparemetwofowlsverydaintily.' 'I willseetoit, master,' answeredGretel. Shekilledtwofowls, scaldedthem, pluckedthem, putthemonthespit, andtowardseveningsetthembeforethefire, thattheymightroast. Thefowlsbegantoturnbrown, andwerenearlyready, buttheguesthadnotyetarrived. ThenGretelcalledouttohermaster: 'Iftheguestdoesnotcome, I musttakethefowlsawayfromthefire, butitwillbe a sinand a shameiftheyarenoteatenthemomenttheyareattheirjuiciest.' Themastersaid: 'I willrunmyself, andfetchtheguest.' Whenthemasterhadturnedhisback, Gretellaidthespitwiththefowlsononeside, andthought: 'Standingsolongbythefirethere, makesonesweatandthirsty; whoknowswhentheywillcome? Meanwhile, I willrunintothecellar, andtake a drink.' Sherandown, set a jug, said: 'Godblessitforyou, Gretel,' andtook a gooddrink, andthoughtthatwineshouldflowon, andshouldnotbeinterrupted, andtookyetanotherheartydraught.